Image credit: CFJC Today file

By Marty Hastings

IN THE BCFC

Vankoughnett talks future with Kamloops Broncos as organization mulls coaching change

Oct 29, 2025 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — After a winless season, the Kamloops Broncos are considering making a change at the head coaching position.

The junior football team is advertising the job on social media while also remaining open to the return of incumbent head coach Braden Vankoughnett, according to Broncos’ president Michelle Peters.

“We have gone to market to see what there is out there for potential new head coaches,” Peters said. “Braden is still in the running for that. He will put his resume in and we will interview him for the position, as well.”

Kamloops has a record of eight wins and 40 losses under Vankoughnett, who was hired a month before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and began his coaching tenure in 2021.

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On-field disappointment long precedes the arrival of Vankoughnett, with the B.C. Football Conference (BCFC) club riding a post-season slump that dates back to 2015.

Vankoughnett said he is willing to continue in the head coaching role if the organization takes steps to become more competitive and increases its coaching budget.

At the moment, the coaching budget is about $10,000, which is likely the lowest in the league, according to Peters.

“About $30,000 to $40,000 would be good,” Peters said. “So we could distribute it to not only the head coach, but also our offensive and defensive co-ordinators.”

Vankoughnett, soon to become a father, has a full-time job in sales, in addition to his role with the Broncos.

“You go to work in the morning, you head right to practice and then you head home,” Vankoughnett said. “You’re gone for 12 to 14 hours with work and coaching. And I just don’t want to be continuing to do that with where I’m going with my family and next stages in life.”

The Broncos’ head coaching gig is full-time work that deserves full-time pay, according to Vankoughnett.

“Whether it’s myself or whether the Broncos go in a different direction and hire a new head coach, doing football full-time is a big part of what needs to happen to compete in this conference and take this team to the next level,” he said.

“We’re dealing with coaches across the conference that pretty much do this on a full-time basis. They’re recruiting full-time. They’re spending the time on film and game planning –100 per cent football.”

Added Peters: “It would be better if we could have a coach that could be three-quarters if not full-time football for the season. They’d have more time to devote to building plays and talking to players and developing coaches.”

Vankoughnett ballparked a suitable football operations budget at $100,000, noting that would be enough to pay coaches and cover recruiting costs.

“Compared to teams that have a much bigger recruiting budget, who can offer certain things like places to stay for free, flights, accommodation … that’s a big hill to climb when it comes to a recruiting battle,” Vankoughnett said.

“You could do it with probably $50,000 to $60,000, but in order to take this team where I think everyone wants to see it go, I’d say around $100,000 would be a large number, but a good number.”

Vankoughnett said Kamloops high school football programs are not producing anywhere near enough players to buoy the Broncos, so recruiting is most often done out of city, province and country.

He used the Okanagan Sun to make a point on the recruiting budget, referring to NCAA recruits who have helped the Kelowna club reach the Canadian Junior Football League final, which is scheduled for Nov. 9.

“We just don’t have the financial capabilities right now to bring those kinds of players in,” Vankoughnett said. “They’re not going to come to Canada and pay 10,000-plus dollars to come play football for their last year. They’re looking for a program that will help them financially, help them with their passport, help with their insurance and give them a place to live so they can just come and play football.”

Finding sponsorship dollars to bolster the budget is always among priorities for the Broncos’ board of directors.

Peters would like to remain in her position as president when a new board is voted in for a two-year term during the Annual General Meeting on Jan. 20 at the Tournament Capital Centre.

Whether Vankoughnett is head coach when that meeting takes place remains to be seen.

He expects the board to name its bench boss within the next month.

“I’m excited to see the applications that come in and, to be honest, I just want what’s best for the Broncos,” Vankoughnett said.

“We need to invest in coaching staff. We need to invest in player retention and player recruitment and take the next steps to be a competitive team in this conference.”